Method for controlling access to medications

ABSTRACT

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a method for controlling access to medications. The method preferably includes the step of electronically unlocking a lid for a single bin out of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location, to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the bins in the same delivery module remain locked. The method should then engage a mechanical lock on the lid once it has been closed, maintain the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location, and engage a mechanical lock on the delivery module once it has been lowered into a drawer at the second location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/358,957 filed on Jul. 6, 2016 which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments generally relate to modular and fully traceable systems fordelivering healthcare supplies, including but not limited to medicationsand instruments.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

The transporting, storing, dispensing, and returning/disposal of medicalsupplies and medications is a daunting task in view of the complexity ofmodern healthcare systems. Any system or method for serving thisindustry must provide security and traceability, as well as provide aneasy platform for incorporating the system into the daily routine forhealthcare professionals.

SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a medical cart having a drawerwith a post which extends upwardly from a bottom surface of the drawer.The cart further includes a removable medication delivery module havingfour sidewalls and a bottom wall as well as a plurality ofindividually-lockable bins placed above the bottom wall and within thefour sidewalls. A lock may be positioned above the bottom wall and belowthe plurality of individually-lockable bins with an aperture on the lockwhich engages with the post and a hole in the bottom wall sized toaccept the post.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following more detailed description of theparticular embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of an exemplary embodiment will be obtained froma reading of the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings wherein identical reference characters refer to identical partsand in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amedical cart, having an exposed central column.

FIG. 1B is a perspective illustration of another exemplary embodiment ofa medical cart, having a housing which contains a plurality of sleeves.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment for insertingand removing the delivery module from the sleeves.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thedelivery module.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where the section line A-A has been indicated.

FIG. 7 is a side section view, taken along section line A-A andindicating the location of Detail A and Detail B.

FIG. 8 is a detailed section view of Detail A.

FIG. 9 is a detailed section view of Detail B.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where the section line B-B has been indicated.

FIG. 11 is a top section view, taken along section line B-B.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where the delivery module has had several binsremoved and where the location for Detail C has been indicated.

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of Detail C.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where each bin (except for one) has been removedalong with the printed circuit board for the delivery module.

FIG. 15 is a partial section view of an exemplary embodiment of thedelivery module when locked within the drawer and where the location forDetail D has been indicated.

FIG. 16 is a detailed view of Detail D.

FIG. 17 is a rear partial section view of an exemplary embodiment of abin where the bin has been locked and where the location for Detail Ehas been indicated.

FIG. 18 is detailed view of Detail E.

FIG. 19 is a rear partial section view of the bin embodiment shown inFIG. 17 where the bin has been opened and where the location for DetailF has been shown.

FIG. 20 is a detailed view of Detail F.

FIG. 21 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of themedical cart.

FIGS. 22-25 are logical flowcharts for performing a method ofcontrolling access to medications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In thedrawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may beexaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one ormore other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference toillustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments(and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations fromthe shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, ofmanufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus,embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to theparticular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to includedeviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1A is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of amedical cart, having an exposed central column 70. The cart is supportedby a base 26 which preferably contains a set of wheels or casters formoving the cart. A battery 25 and associated electronics may be placedwithin the base 26 and is electrically connected through the centralcolumn 70 to a computer 10, which includes a display, processor, andmemory. In some embodiments, the computer 10 may be a touch screen andwill contain the processor and memory within the housing for the displaytouch screen. In other embodiments, the computer 10 may have a displaypositioned as shown in the figure, with a processor and memory beingplaced somewhere else on the cart.

A sleeve 180 extends from the cart and away from the column 70, toprovide an envelope for accepting a drawer 101. Preferably, a pair ofdrawer slides 175 are used to allow the drawer 101 to be translatedin/out of the sleeve 180. A delivery module 110 can be inserted/removedfrom the drawer 101, and preferably contains a plurality of bins 150which are preferably individually-lockable and trackable. A protrusion125 preferably extends from the delivery module 110 and out of thedrawer 101. The protrusion 125 preferably extends away from the frontfacia 100 of the drawer 101.

A wireless power transmitter 501 is placed on the cart to communicatewith a wireless power receiver 500 as described below. The wirelesspower transmitter 501 is preferably in electrical connection with thebattery 25 and associated electronics found within the base 26. Awireless data transmitter/receiver 551 is also placed on the cart tocommunicate with a wireless data transmitter/receiver 550 as describedbelow. The wireless data transmitter/receiver 551 is preferably inelectrical connection with the computer 10 and its associated processor.

FIG. 1B is a perspective illustration of another exemplary embodiment ofa medical cart, having a housing 60 which contains a plurality ofsleeves 180. In this embodiment, the column 70 may be placed inside thehousing 60 or may not be used at all. A battery 25 and associatedelectronics may be placed below the housing 60 or within a bottomportion of the housing 60 and would again be in electrical connectionwith the computer 10. In this embodiment, a user interface 15 may beplaced on or near the top surface of the housing 60, and allows the userto input various types of identifying information, such as biometrics(finger print, retina scan, hand print, etc.) or a key card (magneticstrip, RFID, etc.) for gaining access to the cart generally. As will bedescribed below, access to particular drawers 101 or even specific bins150 within a drawer may still be restricted, even after general accessto the cart has been given. The sleeves 180 preferably have arectangular cross-section and may completely cover the top, sides, andbottom of the delivery module 110.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment for insertingand removing the delivery module 110 from the drawers 101 within thesleeves 180. As shown, the drawer 101 may be translated out of thesleeve 180 until the rear wall of the drawer 101 is nearly outside ofthe sleeve 180. The delivery module 110 can then be lowered verticallyinto the drawer 101, until the locking mechanism 200 is engaged to lockthe delivery module 110 within the drawer 101. One or more springs 260may be placed on the bottom surface of the drawer 101, where the spring260 could be any type of compression spring, leaf spring, or other typeof spring that would simply bias the delivery module 110 upwardly andaway from the bottom of the drawer 101. One or more posts 250 alsopreferably extend from the bottom surface of the drawer 101.

As described further below, the posts 250 should be sized and positionedto engage with the locking mechanism 200 to secure the delivery module110 within the drawer 101. In an exemplary embodiment, a front facia 100may be positioned outside of the drawer 101 and on the front surface ofthe drawer 101, where the facia 100 has a surface area that is largerthan the surface area of the front surface of the drawer 101, and wherethe facia 100 is sized to fit within the sleeve 180.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule 110 shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of short pillars 115 may extendfrom the bottom surface 109 of the delivery module 110. Alignedgenerally with the bottom surface 109 is an optional bottom plate 255,which covers the locking mechanism 200, which preferably comprises alock 270 which rotates about a pivot point 272, which is preferably nearthe center of the lock 270. The lock 270 can take on many forms, but ispreferably elongate with a pair of apertures on the opposing ends of thelock 270 which engage with the posts 250 in the drawer 101. One or moreholes 251 may be positioned to align with each post 250 and accept thepost 250 into the delivery module 110, or if the bottom plate 255 isused the holes 251 would be placed within the plate 255 to allow eachpost 250 to pass through the plate 255.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Toinstall the delivery module 110 within the drawer 101, the posts 250 arealigned with the holes 251 on the bottom of the delivery module 110 asit is lowered into the drawer 101. A notch 105 is preferably located atthe front of the drawer 101, and generally comprises a rectangularsection of material that is removed from the front wall of the drawer101. When using the front facia 100, a corresponding rectangular sectionof material is also preferably removed from the facia 100. In this way,the protrusion 125 is permitted to extend out of the front wall of thedrawer 101 and the facia 100 (if used). Another piece of material ispreferably removed from the rear wall of the drawer 101 to create therear wall aperture 102, which is preferably aligned with the wirelesspower receiver 500.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thedelivery module 110. On the rear portion of the delivery module 110 maybe a wireless power receiver 500 along with a wireless datatransmitter/receiver 550. Both the wireless power receiver 500 and thewireless data transmitter/receiver 550 are preferably in electricalconnection with the PCB 300. The protrusion 125 preferably contains anelectronic display 126 which could be any flat panel display includingbut not limited to: LCD, OLED, or any form of luminescent polymers. Theprotrusion 125 preferably begins near the top of the delivery module 110and extends downwardly until near the midpoint of the vertical height ofthe delivery module 110. The protrusion 125 is preferably placed nearthe horizontal midpoint of the delivery module 110.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule 110 shown in FIG. 5 where the section line A-A has beenindicated. Again it is noted that an exemplary embodiment includes aplurality of short pillars 115 which raise the bottom surface 109 of thedelivery module 110 off the bottom surface of the drawer 101. The bottomplate 255 is preferably aligned horizontally with the bottom surface109. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the bottom plate 255may not be used, and instead the bottom surface 109 would simply beextended and would provide the structure in this area, such that thelock 272 and spring 295 would simply be attached to the bottom of thedelivery module 110. In this type of embodiment, rather than referringto the plate 255 it would be more appropriate to refer to the bottomwall instead, which could reference both use of a plate as well assimply extending the bottom surface 109 of the delivery module 110.

FIG. 7 is a side section view, taken along section line A-A andindicating the location of Detail A. A printed circuit board 300 (PCB)is preferably positioned under the bins 150 and generally has at least aportion of the PCB 300 underneath each bin 150. The PCB 300 includes anumber of different components and circuits, which can vary depending onthe particular embodiment. Generally speaking, the PCB 300 would atleast include a processor and electronic data storage. Each bin 150should contain its own electromechanical actuator 400, which is used tolock each bin 150 individually. The actuator 400 may be an SMA wireactuator or motor and is preferably placed in between adjacent bins 150and is not underneath the bin 150, but this is not required. Anilluminating device 350 may be placed underneath each bin 150 orincorporated into the bottom of each bin 150. The illuminating device350 is preferably one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), ideally agrouping that includes a red, a green, and a blue LED, but can also bean electroluminescent polymer. The actuator 400 and illuminating device350 of each bin 150 is preferably in electrical connection with the PCB300, which is in turn in electrical connection with the wireless datatransmitter/receiver 550.

FIG. 8 is a detailed section view of Detail A. An exemplary protrusion125 may contain a sidewall portion 127 which begins at the top of thefront face of the delivery module 110 and then extends horizontally andaway from the delivery module 110. The sidewall portion 127 thencontains an arc or radius such that the sidewall portion 127 turnsdownwardly until travelling substantially vertically until reaching thedistal end, which is preferably near the midpoint of the vertical heightof the delivery module 110. This exemplary protrusion 125 alsopreferably contains an opening or hollow portion 128 which is defined bythe space below the sidewall portion 127 and between the sidewallportion 127 and the front face of the delivery module 110.

Another illuminating device 131 may be placed within the front wall ofthe delivery module 110, so that it can illuminate the opening 128. Inthe embodiment shown, the illuminating device 131 is positioned behind aportion of the sidewall 127 which, in this embodiment, also runsparallel to the front wall of the delivery module 110. In thissituation, it is preferable that the sidewall 127 either contains aphysical opening to allow the light to pass through the sidewall 127.Alternatively, the sidewall 127 can be constructed with a translucent,semi-translucent, or transparent material that would allow the light topass through the sidewall 127. The illuminating device 131 is preferablyone or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), ideally a grouping thatincludes a red, a green, and a blue LED, but can also be anelectroluminescent polymer. The illuminating device 131 and the display126 are preferably in electrical connection with the PCB 300. In someembodiments, where the sidewall portion 127 has adequate strength, auser can utilize the opening 128 in combination with the sidewallportion 127 as a handle for transporting the delivery module 110. Inthis way, the opening 128 is sized to accept a portion of severalfingers of the user, in order to obtain adequate grip of the sidewallportion 127.

FIG. 9 is a detailed section view of Detail B. The bottom plate 255 isgenerally co-planar with the bottom surface 109 and in this embodimentthe bottom plate 255 has a generally U-shaped cross-section, sized tofit within a rectangular opening in the bottom surface 109. The hole 251in this embodiment is found within the plate 255, which permits the post250 to pass through the plate 255 and engage with the lock 270.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where the section line B-B has been indicated.

FIG. 11 is a top section view, taken along section line B-B. One or morebatteries 169 are preferably placed along one or more sides of thedelivery module 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the batteries 169 arenot placed along the front or rear portions of the delivery module 110.Also in an exemplary embodiment, the battery 169 is positioned between arow of bins 150 and the interior surface of the delivery module 110. Thebatteries 169 are preferably in electrical connection with the PCB 300,which includes a charging circuit that is in electrical connection withthe wireless power receiver 500.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where the delivery module has had several binremoved and where the location for Detail C has been indicated. The PCB300 is preferably underneath each bin 150, and could be a singlestructure or could be multiple separate PCBs.

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of Detail C. The electromechanical actuator400 preferably contains a connector 360 which connects with the PCB 300.The illuminating device 350 is preferably mounted atop, and inelectrical connection with the PCB 300. Each bin 150 preferably containsa lock 402 which is biased with a spring 401 to be in the lockedcondition, and requires an electrical actuation in order to be opened.Thus, to lock the bin 150 once it has been opened, the lid 151 ispreferably rotated about the hinge 155 until the lock 402 is engaged andthe bin 150 is closed and locked, without requiring any electricalactuation. In this way, it can be described as having been mechanicallylocked, and not electrically locked. Other embodiments may provide forelectrically locking the bin 150, but for the exemplary embodiments thiswould be done mechanically. Further, the locked state can remain, evenwhen power is lost.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of the deliverymodule shown in FIG. 5 where each bin 150 (except for one) has beenremoved along with the printed circuit board 300. The lock 270 ispreferably pivotally attached to the bottom plate 255 at the pivot point272. A linkage 280 may be used to connect the lock 270 with anelectromechanical actuator 290, which can be an SMA wire actuator ormotor. The linkage 280 preferably connects to the lock 270 about halfwayin between the pivot point 272 and the aperture 275. A spring 295 may beused to bias the lock 270 in the closed position, so that when themodule is pressed downwardly into the drawer, the lock 270 engagesmechanically, without requiring any electrical input. In this way, itcould be referred to as having been mechanically locked, and notelectrically locked. Further, the locked state can remain, even whenpower is lost.

In this embodiment, a tension spring is attached at one end to the plate255 and at a second end to the lock 270. It is preferable that thedistance from the spring 295 attachment point to the pivot point 272 issubstantially the same as the distance from the linkage 280 attachmentpoint to the pivot point 272. In other words, the attachment points forthe spring 295 and linkage 280 should be symmetrical about the pivotpoint 272, although this is not required.

As noted above, the lock 270 preferably contains one or more apertures275 for accepting a post 250. Here, there are apertures 275 placed onboth opposing ends of an elongate lock 270. The apertures 275 arepreferably placed above the holes 251 in the plate 255.

From the view of this embodiment, the delivery module 110 couldgenerally be described as having a floor and four sidewalls which definea tray 600, which accepts a plurality of individually lockable bins 150.Preferably, when each bin 150 is closed, it does not extend above thesidewalls 650 of the tray 600. Each bin 150 preferably contains a lid151 with a hinge 155 that is located on the rear edge of the bin 150(i.e. opposite the front edge of the delivery module 110 which containsthe protrusion 125).

FIG. 15 is a partial section view of an exemplary embodiment of thedelivery module when locked within the drawer 101 and where the locationfor Detail D has been indicated.

FIG. 16 is a detailed view of Detail D. The post 250 extends from thebottom of the drawer 101 with a shaft 251 having a diameter D1. At thetop of the shaft 251 there is preferably a shoulder, as shaft 252extends upwardly from shaft 251 and has a diameter D2, where it ispreferred that D2<D1. A tip 253 is preferably attached to the top ofshaft 252 and is preferably conical with a base having diameter D3,where it is preferred that D3>D2. In some embodiments, D1 issubstantially equal to D3. When the lock 270 is engaged with the post250, both the lock 270 as well as the bottom plate 255 should preferablysurround at least a portion of the shaft 252. In other words, the bottomplate 255 and the lock 270 should be between shaft 251 and the tip 253.A gap is preferably defined between the bottom surface 109 of thedelivery module and the bottom of the drawer 101, where the gap isgenerally defined by the height of the short pillars 115.

FIG. 17 is a rear partial section view of an exemplary embodiment of abin 150 where the bin has been locked and where the location for DetailE has been indicated. The lock 402 is preferably pivotally attached tothe bin 150 at the pivot point 460. The lock 402 is also preferablypivotally attached to the actuator 400 at the pivot point 465. Anactuator spring 450 may be attached at a first end to the bin 150 or apiece that is fixed relative to the bin, and attached at a second end tothe pivot point 465. In this way, the spring 450 is positioned to biasthe lock 402 in a closed position. A lock spring 401 is preferablyattached at a first end to the lock 402 and at a second end to the bin150 or a piece that is fixed relative to the bin 150. In this way, thespring 401 is also preferably positioned to bias the lock 402 in aclosed position. Although not required, both springs 450 and 401 arepreferably extension springs. Also preferably by not required, springs450 and 401 are positioned on opposite sides of the lock 402.

FIG. 18 is detailed view of Detail E. A hook 420 is preferably locatedat the top of the lock 402 and preferably contains a rounded tip 421which is formed at the end of a narrow body. The narrow body preferablyfits within a slot 152 in the lid 151. The lid 151 preferably containsan open space 153 which is adjacent to the slot 152 and preferably has alarger cross-sectional area than the slot 152. As shown, when the lock402 is fully engaged, the narrow body of the hook 420 is inserted intothe slot 152 as far as possible, preferably until the rounded tip 421contacts the deepest point in the slot 152 which may be the same pointat which the two opposing rounds of the lid 151 and hook 420 arecontacting.

FIG. 19 is a rear partial section view of the bin embodiment shown inFIG. 17 where the bin 150 has been opened and where the location forDetail F has been shown. When the bin 150 is opened, each of the springs401 and 450 may be stretched due to the movement of the actuator 400.

FIG. 20 is a detailed view of Detail F. When the bin 150 is unlocked,the lock 402 may rotate so that the hook 420 moves away from the slot152 and into the open space 153. In this way, the hook 420 is disengagedfrom the lid 151 so that it can open. When open, a top portion of thehook 420 may be in contact with or close to contact with the top portionof the open space 153. As the lid 151 is closed, the top portion of theopen space 153 should contact the top portion of the hook 420, in orderto guide the hook 420 into the slot 152 in order to re-lock the bin 150.In an exemplary embodiment, the rounded tip 421 of the hook 420 maycontact a portion of the open space 153 or the opening of the slot 152in order to further guide the tip 421 into the slot 152 and thus ensurethat the hook 420 becomes engaged within the slot 152.

FIG. 21 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of themedical cart.

The delivery module 110 includes a PCB 300 which preferably has both aprocessor and electronic storage. A number of different types of datacan be stored on this electronic storage, including but not limited to:destination for the module 110, date/time for the last time the module110 was opened and which bin 150 was accessed, battery 169 levels, andidentifying information data for the module 110 (serial number, modelnumber, customer number, etc.). Any of this data can be stored on thedisplay module 110 and displayed on the display 126, before/after/duringdelivery or transportation and because of the geometry of the protrusionand drawer, can even display to a user when the module 110 is closedwithin a drawer. Any of this data can also be transmitted to theprocessor either on the computer 10 or the cart electronics 25 eitheronce the module 110 has been installed within the drawer and electricalcommunication between the wireless data transmitter/receivers 550 and551 is established. Any of this data can also be transmitted to theprocessor either on the computer 10 or the cart electronics 25 eitheronce the module 110 has been installed within the drawer and electricalcommunication between the wireless data transmitter/receivers 550 and551 is established or through the internet/network connection with thecomputer 10, which can be a wired or wireless connection. Thus, the cartcan receive the data for the module 110 through the internet/networkconnection prior to the module 110 actually being installed within thecart. In this way, the cart knows the modules 110 that are intended forinstall and when the cart recognized that a module 110 is not intendedfor the cart and (1) an error message can be displayed and/or (2) thelock 270 can be electronically unlocked when the data for the module 110does not match the data for a module 110 that is intended for the cart.

FIGS. 22-25 are logical flowcharts for performing a method ofcontrolling access to medications. In FIG. 22, the mechanical lock 402on the bins 150 should preferably engage automatically by the systemonce the lid 151 has been lowered adequately. As described above, thespring(s) are preferably biased to maintain a locked orientation, suchthat even if the battery 169 were to lose power, the bin 150 wouldremain locked.

Regarding FIG. 24, as noted above there is a number of different typesof data regarding the module and its contents which can be transmittedto the cart, either through the module 110 itself or through thenetwork/internet connection on the cart. When medications are placedwithin a bin 150, the medication data (optionally including the patientfor whom the medication is intended) can be stored, preferably includingthe module 110 and bin 150 containing the medication. This can be storedon a server or computer and accessed by the system through thenetwork/internet connection on the computer 10. When a user accesses thecart, specific medications stored in a module 110 may be searched for,or specific patients may be searched for, in order to find theircorresponding medications. All of this data can be input, searched,and/or accessed through the electronic storage and processors outlinedabove with a user interface that can be accessed from computer 10 andvarious input means described above. Once the bin 150 and/or module 110containing the requested medication has been located, the bin 150 or themodule 110 can optionally be illuminated as described above. When thereis waste medication, either already removed and was not administered ormedication that was never removed, the data stored can be updated toindicate the waste medication and the module 110 and bin 150 that nowcontain the waste medication. Any module 110 containing waste (i.e.waste module) can then have each bin 150 locked before being transportedto a medication waste location, which can either be returned to theoriginal pharmacy or distribution center or can be taken to awaste-specific location that is not necessarily the origin of themedications.

It is respectfully noted that although power to the delivery module ispreferably shown as wireless power 500/501, this is not required, as anyperson of ordinary skill could also use connectors which would establishan electrical connection when the delivery module is installed withinthe drawer. Similarly, although electronic data transmission to and fromthe delivery module is shown as wireless data 550/551, this is notrequired, as connectors could be used for this as well.

It should be noted that the bins 150 can be used to store and transportany item that requires some type of security. Generally, this wouldinclude medications and medical supplies (such as instruments, devices,etc.) but could also apply to any item having value, either from beingrare or from a high price point for purchase. Thus, although describedas a “medical cart” herein, the structure and teachings can be used forany other small items that require tracking and secure transport.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention,those skilled in the art will realize that many variations andmodifications may be made to affect the described invention and still bewithin the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, many of theelements indicated above may be altered or replaced by differentelements which will provide the same result and fall within the spiritof the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit theinvention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.

We claim:
 1. A method for controlling access to medications comprisingthe steps of: electronically unlocking a lid for a single bin out of aplurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location, toaccept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the bins inthe same delivery module remain locked; engaging a mechanical lock onthe lid once it has been closed; maintaining the bin in a locked stateduring transport to a second location; and engaging a mechanical lock onthe delivery module once it has been lowered into a drawer at the secondlocation.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein: the step of maintaining thebin in a locked state during transport to a second location is performedeven if there is no electrical power within the delivery module.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising the step of: transmitting powerwirelessly from the cart to a battery in the delivery module.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: accepting patientname data; electronically identifying the bin which contains medicationfor said patient; and directing light into the bin which contains saidmedication.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:electronically unlocking a lid for a waste bin for accepting medicationwaste; engaging a mechanical lock on the lid of the waste bin once ithas been closed; electronically unlocking the delivery module containingthe waste bin from a drawer so that it can be removed from the drawer;maintaining the waste bin in a locked state during transport to amedication return location; and directing light out of the drawer whichcontains the waste medication once it has been inserted into a drawer atthe medication return location.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein: thestep of maintaining the bin in a locked state during transport to asecond location is performed even if there is no electrical power withinthe delivery module.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising thestep of: directing light out of the bin which contains the wastemedication.
 8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:accepting input data regarding the waste medication.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising the steps of: transmitting power wirelesslyfrom a cart containing the drawer to a battery in the delivery module;storing identifying data for the delivery module on electronic storageplaced on the delivery module; displaying the delivery moduleidentifying information on an electronic display mounted on a protrusionextending from the delivery module; maintaining the display ofidentifying information during transport to a third location; engaging amechanical lock on the delivery module once the delivery module islowered into a drawer at the third location; and continuing to displayidentifying information on the electronic display even when the draweris closed.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein: the step of maintainingthe bin in a locked state during transport to a second location isperformed even if the battery in the delivery module has lost all poweror becomes disconnected.
 11. A method for controlling access tomedications comprising the steps of: electronically unlocking a lid fora single bin out of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at afirst location, to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where therest of the bins in the same delivery module remain locked; rotating amechanical lock to engage with the lid once it has been closed; rotatinga mechanical lock inside the delivery module to lock the delivery modulewithin a drawer at a second location; accepting patient name data alongwith medication data for said patient; electronically identifying thedelivery module which contains the bin having medication for saidpatient; and directing light out of a protrusion extending from thedelivery module which contains said medication.
 12. The method of claim11 wherein: the light is directed into a space beneath the protrusion.13. The method of claim 11 wherein: the mechanical lock inside thedelivery module is below the plurality of bins and above a bottomsurface of the delivery module.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein: thestep of rotating a mechanical lock inside the delivery module isperformed as a post in the bottom of the drawer penetrates into thedelivery module.
 15. A method for controlling access to medicationscomprising the steps of: electronically unlocking a lid for a single binout of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location,to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the binsin the same delivery module remain locked; rotating a mechanical lock toengage with the lid once it has been closed; maintaining the bin in alocked state during transport to a second location; rotating amechanical lock on the delivery module to engage with a post in thebottom of a drawer once the delivery module has been lowered into adrawer at the second location containing said post; electronicallyunlocking a lid for a waste bin for accepting medication waste; rotatinga mechanical lock to engage with the lid of the waste bin once it hasbeen filled with waste medication and closed; electronically unlockingthe delivery module containing the waste bin from a drawer so that itcan be removed from the drawer; and maintaining the waste bin in alocked state during transport to a medication return location.
 16. Themethod of claim 15 further comprising the step of: directing light outof the drawer which contains the waste medication once it has beeninserted into a drawer at the medication return location.
 17. The methodof claim 15 further comprising the step of: accepting waste medicationdata prior to electronically unlocking the lid for the waste bin. 18.The method of claim 15 wherein: the step of electronically unlocking thedelivery module from the drawer is performed by rotating an elongatelock about a pivot point located near the center of the elongate lock.19. The method of claim 15 wherein: the step of electronically unlockingthe delivery module from the drawer is performed by rotating an elongatelock so that it no longer engages with a first post extending from thebottom of the drawer and engaging with a first end of the elongate lockas well as a second post extending from the bottom of the drawer andengaging with a second end of the elongate lock.